Chef and television presenter Al Brown wanders through
Otago Farmers Market on Saturday. Photo by Jane Dawber.
Intrigued by manuka-smoked eggs and "blown away" by the
variety on offer at Dunedin's Otago Farmers Market, chef Al
Brown faced a dilemma when it came to deciding what to cook for
his latest television show.
In Dunedin to film an episode of Get Fresh, which
celebrates regional and seasonal dishes from throughout New
Zealand, Mr Brown spent a couple of hours filming at the
market on Saturday.
The aim was to produce three dishes from the produce he
collected at the market, which he described as a "window to
the province".
From the local fish species to the stone fruit and the
produce from the "fertile Taieri plain", there was a lot to
chose from, he said.
"It's my take on the region at this time of year. For me,
Dunedin's about hearty food."
Among his purchases were black pudding, Cox's orange apples
and kale and he was debating about picking up some pork.
"There is a lot of pork around here ... [like] your iconic
bacon butties."
As well as catching up with some of Otago's leading
producers, he was pleased to discover something new in
manuka-smoked eggs.
"It's a great market and people make it by supporting it. It
should be part of their weekly routine, not about a special
occasion."
Mr Brown then went on to turn his purchases into the three
dishes at Dunedin restaurant Plato. The show will screen on
TV One later this year.
The farmers market also celebrated its eighth birthday on
Saturday.
- rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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